Chapter 27
Chapter 27
Theodor awoke in his room, the morning sunlight tickling his face. It was a morning just like any other. And yet, a few days had passed since his awakening, an event that still felt like a dream.
Was it really just a dream?
But when he closed his eyes, the memories from the grand banquet hall returned vividly. That blinding flash of light, the radiant essence of pure mana pouring from his body, and then…
Still lying in bed, Theodor brought a hand to his lips.
Though time had passed, the sensation of that kiss with her remained clear and unmistakable. As he tried to slowly relive that moment with her, a sharp knock at the door interrupted his thoughts.
Soon after, a flurry of attendants entered the room.
They washed him, dressed him, and tended to him with meticulous care. Theodoe, unfamiliar with such treatment, received their service with a stiff and awkward composure.
Hardly anyone had visited his room since he was young. After being cast aside by his father, he had done most things on his own. It was convenient to have attendants fuss over him now, but the loss of his personal time irritated him.
Once he was dressed, the head butler entered and delivered the day’s schedule.
“After the morning meal, you will observe His Majesty’s court duties.”
The morning meal was a modest gathering held once a week where the Emperor, Empress, and royal children dined together. Observing the court’s affairs had become part of his daily routine since his awakening, as he was now the crown prince.
Just the thought of seeing Victor and the noble ministers again irked him. He would much rather be stretching with Rosalyn.
But he couldn’t avoid it. It was his duty now that he had reclaimed the position of crown prince.
“Understood,” Theodor replied, then finished preparing and made his way to the breakfast hall.
How long has it been?
It was the first time he had attended the morning meal since his exile to the Siphoc villa. Not that he held any fond memories of the meals from his childhood.
After disowning him, Victor had never spoken to him during those gatherings, wearing only a cold expression. And Theodor, in turn, had spent those meals anxiously reading his every glance.
Even when his favorite food appeared, he couldn’t dare touch it. Kyle would snatch everything away. He had always picked at the leftovers, trying not to offend anyone.
With those memories in mind, Theodor opened the door to the breakfast hall. At the long table, Victor, the Empress, Kyle, and Kyle’s younger brother Bren had already taken their seats.
The Empress greeted him with a strained smile. Even Victor, gauging his expression, spoke first.
“You’re here.”
In the past, even the slightest tardiness would have earned him a harsh rebuke. Theodor offered only a cynical smile, taking his seat without answering.
Kyle shot him a glance mixed with fear and resentment, but quickly looked away when their eyes met.
Soon, a lavish breakfast was served. An array of breads, cakes, fragrant butters and jams, fresh seafood… It was in a different league compared to the modest meals he had scraped together at the villa.
When Theodor picked up his fork, the others cautiously followed his lead. An awkward air settled over the room, but he pretended not to notice and ate.
Though the food was exquisite, he strangely found himself missing the simpler meals he had shared with Rosalyn in Siphoc villa.
A servant approached carrying a silver tray and set it gently on the table. Theodor’s eyes widened at the sight of what lay on it.
Perfectly roasted beef, glistening with juices.
He had loved it since childhood but had never gotten to eat it. Every time he reached for it, Kyle had taken it all. He never even shared a bite.
When Theodor mustered the courage to say he wanted some, Victor would scold him, and Kyle would smirk and devour it in front of him.
But not this time.
With steady hands, Theodore pulled the silver tray toward himself. Kyle’s expression stiffened, but Theodor’s icy gaze silenced him.
He began to eat, his hands trembling slightly. The savory juice and tender meat melted on his tongue.
He cut and ate more, satisfied. As more than half of the roast disappeared, Kyle began looking desperately toward Victor.
Victor, noticing, said in a low voice, “Let your brother have it. You’ve had plenty over the years.”
“Father…!”
Kyle bowed his head, shaking with a mixture of rage and humiliation.
Theodore continued eating with relish. His stomach filled with satisfaction.
Victor, watching nervously, spoke again.
“Theodor, if there’s anything else you’d like, don’t hesitate to ask.”
“That won’t be necessary,” Theodore replied coldly.
It irritated him that Victor, after all those years of neglect, thought this meager gesture would earn his favor.
“Have you relocated my mother’s grave yet?”
“… It’s nearly complete. It should be done by today.”
“Understood.”
With that, Theodor finished the roast beef without leaving a single scrap, then stood and left the breakfast hall.
***
Following the meal, Theodor observed the emperor’s court proceedings.
As he entered the imperial study, the gathered middle-aged ministers all bowed their heads respectfully. It was hard to believe these were the same men who had sneered at him for years.
“Your Majesty, Your Highness,” they greeted.
Among the group, a new face stood out, a young man with golden hair and striking blue eyes, appearing just past his coming-of-age ceremony. Tall and well-built, Theodor didn’t recall ever seeing him in the palace.
Work began promptly, but Theodor soon found himself gazing blankly out the window.
He longed to see Rosalyn. He hadn’t laid eyes on her in days. Just then, a minister spoke up.
“… There has been an increase in refugees from the east. This is a dispatch from Duke Schultz requesting military support. Reports say monsters have appeared.”
Monsters?
Theodor was reminded of the goblin attack on his way to the capital and instinctively turned toward the speaker. Some of the ministers scoffed.
“Monsters? That’s a tale for legends. Probably just bandits.”
“Indeed. Likely a misunderstanding.”
“There are rumors swirling in the eastern provinces. Best to ignore them.”
Theodor remained silent for a moment before speaking.
“… It might not be just a rumor.”
“Your Highness?”
The room turned to him in surprise.
“I was attacked by monsters on my way here,” he said calmly.
Victor looked stunned. “What are you saying?”
“Exactly what I said. About two days’ journey from the capital, I was ambushed by goblins. That’s why I arrived late.”
“Why didn’t you report this the moment you arrived?”
Theodore gave a frosty smile and retorted, “Would you have believed me if I had?”
Victor had no answer to that cutting remark.
“But… Your Highness, that’s impossible. Monsters only exist in stories…” one of the ministers stammered.
“Are you saying I imagined it?” Theodore snapped.
The room fell silent. No one dared speak again under his piercing gaze. Victor, too, wore a pensive expression. Then, the blond youth stepped forward.
“Regardless of whether the monster reports are true, the rise in refugees from the east is real. Even if they’re merely bandits, additional troops are necessary.”
His reasoning was clear and sound that none could argue.
Victor nodded. “Indeed. Dispatch reinforcements to Duke Schultz’s province.”
The ministers assented to the emperor’s order. Then someone addressed the young man.
“Lord Aiden, what brings you here? Where is Lord Preston?”
“My father fell ill last night, so I’m here in his stead.”
Hearing the name ‘Lord Preston’, Theodore observed him more closely.
Lord Preston was a revered knight and general who had defended the empire for decades. Known for his stern and upright nature, he had been one of the few nobles in the palace who never scorned or looked down on Theodor.
He hadn’t shown particular kindness, but even that neutrality had been a quiet salvation for Theodore.
This young man, with golden hair and blue eyes, was Aiden, Preston’s only son and the youngest-ever commander of the Imperial Guard.
Theodor studied him carefully. Confident but not arrogant, modest yet unyielding, Aiden possessed the resolute gaze of a man who had never known doubt or deficiency.
There was nothing feeble in those clear blue eyes, he looked more like a crown prince than Theodor himself. For a fleeting moment, a faint jealousy stirred in his heart before vanishing.
Victor and the ministers moved on to other matters. For Theodor, it was a string of monotonous discussions. He endured it all by thinking of Rosalyn.
***
Back in his room after the long session, Theodor gazed out the window. It had been midday when he entered the study, but night had already fallen.
The day had passed in a blur, and now, finally, he had a moment to himself. Beyond the grand arched window stretched the vast imperial garden, cloaked in darkness.
He remembered standing at this very spot on tiptoe as a child, looking out over that garden with his mother. But the memory didn’t bring comfort, instead it left him feeling empty. She, who had always been by his side in this room, was no longer there.
But now, he had Rosalyn.
He wanted to see her right that moment, but it was already too late.
Not seeing her for just a few days left him feeling strangely hollow and anxious. But tomorrow, a weekend free of court duties, he would visit her first thing.
With that thought, he closed his eyes.
He tried to endure until morning by recalling the kiss with Rosalyn that had been interrupted earlier.
Their first kiss.
Though inexperienced, his body had moved as if it had always known what to do. Their lips had brushed softly, tongues tangled with surprising ease, a dizzying intimacy igniting something deep within him.
Since awakening, he often remembered that moment.
But unlike before, he didn’t feel a wild urge to possess her. Instead, a calm voice echoed in his mind.
She is mine.
A strange voice, filled with both desire and certainty.
Whenever he heard it, heat curled in his lower abdomen. He wanted to make her his, even beyond a kiss. Though he didn’t yet know what that ‘beyond’ entailed.
He imagined claiming every part of her. He recalled how she had once described the intimate bond between a man and woman. He pictured them lying together in bed, wrapped in each other’s arms, kissing as they had in the banquet hall. His entire body flushed with heat.
He could feel the mana essence in his lower belly coursing through his veins, leaving him breathless. His breathing turned heavy.
Knock knock.
But just as the fantasy intensified, someone knocked at the door, snapping him back to reality.
Frustrated and flustered, he stormed to the door and flung it open.
“My schedule is finished for today…!”
“…Your Highness?”
Standing there in a black robe was Rosalyn and he froze. Why was she here when he hadn’t summoned her?
And the moment he saw her, the steamy fantasies he’d been indulging in came rushing back, threatening to set his face ablaze.
“…What brings you here?” he asked in a shaky voice.
She replied, her voice steady, “I have something to tell you, Your Highness.”
(TN: Oh, never seen a ‘side character’ who was true to her role and will now resign. Really sincere ah. But can she resign? 👀)
